Your Key Adult

When you join St Kentigern’s, one of the important people you’ll get to know is your Key Adult.

You’ll meet everyday with your Key Adult group throughout your time at school.

This provides a consistent adult who gets to know you, takes an interest in how you’re getting on and can help you think about your learning, wellbeing and progress.

Sometimes you just need someone who knows you well enough to notice when something isn’t quite right.

Your Key Adult is one of those people.

Find out more here: Learning Hub

Getting help is part of learning.

Support doesn’t only happen when a pupil leaves a classroom.

It starts with excellent teaching.

Our teachers understand that pupils learn in different ways and at different rates. They use information about their learners to provide appropriate support and challenge within lessons.

If you’re finding something difficult, we want you to ask for help.

If you need something explained differently, tell us.

If you’re ready for more challenge, we want to recognise that too.

Supporting pupils isn’t about lowering expectations. It’s about helping every young person make progress.

The right support at the right time.

Some young people require additional support with their learning.

Our Support for Learning team works alongside pupils, families, teachers, pastoral staff and partner agencies to understand individual needs and identify appropriate support.

Depending on the needs of the young person, this may involve additional strategies within the classroom, targeted support, help with particular aspects of learning or wider planning around their educational experience.

We recognise that additional support should never be a one-size-fits-all approach.

The question isn’t simply “What support do we provide?”

It’s “What does this young person need to succeed?”

Find out more information here: Learning Hub

Understanding the individual young person.

For families of children with additional support needs, moving to secondary school can bring additional questions and sometimes additional worries.

Will the school understand my child?

Who will support them?

How will information from primary school be shared?

What happens if they become overwhelmed?

We work closely with primary schools, families and other professionals to understand the needs of young people before they arrive.

Where additional planning is required, this can begin well before the first day of S1.

Our aim is to make the move to St Kentigern’s as predictable, supported and successful as possible.

Sometimes a little more time makes a big difference.

Not every young person needs the same transition experience.

Some pupils benefit from additional opportunities to visit the school, meet key adults, become familiar with important spaces and understand what their school day will look like.

Where appropriate, we can work with pupils, families and primary schools to provide an enhanced transition.

This can help reduce uncertainty and allow relationships to begin developing before S1 starts.

For some young people, familiarity builds confidence.

Learning and wellbeing go together.

Young people experience challenges just like adults do.

Friendships can change. Family circumstances can change. School work can sometimes feel difficult. Young people can feel worried, overwhelmed or simply have days when things aren’t going well.

We want pupils to know that asking for help is a strength.

Your Key Adult, teachers, House team, Support for Learning staff and other trusted adults across the school are there to listen and help identify what support might be needed.

Where appropriate, we can also work alongside families and partner services to provide additional support.

You don’t need to wait until a small problem becomes a big one before talking to us.

Everyone has the right to feel safe and respected.

We want St Kentigern’s to be a community characterised by positive relationships.

That means treating one another with dignity and respect, taking responsibility for our actions and understanding how our behaviour affects other people.

When difficulties occur, our focus is on addressing them, supporting those involved and helping young people make better choices.

Our expectations are clear because young people deserve a school where they can feel safe, learn and flourish.

Working With Families

We are partners in your child’s education.

Parents and carers know their children better than anyone.

That’s why strong communication between home and school matters.

If something is affecting your child, we want you to talk to us. Equally, when we have concerns, we want to work with families early rather than waiting for difficulties to become bigger.

Throughout your child’s time at St Kentigern’s, there will be opportunities to discuss their progress, learning, wellbeing and future choices.

Sometimes the most important conversations begin very simply:

“We’ve noticed something has changed. Can we talk?”

Working together gives young people the strongest possible support.